POSTGAME NOTES: This may just be the beginning for Bumgarner, Harper

Like most in their age group, Madison Bumgarner and Bryce Harper went hard on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in May. But this was no beer pong game in a backyard or run of touch football on the beach. The 20-year-old Harper and the 23-year-old Bumgarner are stars on two of the best teams in the National League, and with a sweep at stake, they went at it in front of a sellout crowd at AT&T Park.

Bumgarner struck out Harper in the first and got a flyout in the third. But when he tried to go to the outside corner with a 1-2 fastball in the sixth, Harper made him pay, showing off the prodigious power that had him in the big leagues at 19.

“It was a pretty decent pitch,” Bumgarner said. “He made a good adjustment and put a good swing on it.”

Bumgarner was sharp Wednesday, matching Gio Gonzalez and giving up just one run over seven innings. So much for that rough road trip. But Harper got the better of him and that’s all it took through eight innings. When the Giants came back yet again, Harper made a run-saving diving catch and then scored the winning run after scorching a double to the wall in the 10th.

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“It’s fun to play against guys like that,” Bumgarner said. “He’s the kind of player that brings out the best in you and that’s a good thing.”

Like Troy Tulowitzki a few days ago, Harper volleyed the praise right back at Bumgarner, who already is one of the most respected pitchers in the league.

“That kid is unbelievable,” Harper said. “He’s one of the best guys I’ve faced all year. He’s a tough pitcher and a tough lefty-lefty matchup for me. I’m just trying to have a good AB and a good approach.

“He’s an incredible pitcher. He knows what he’s doing out there.”
Alright, so they’re not the sexiest quotes in the world, aside from the use of “kid” from the 20-year-old. Too many clown questions have been asked in the past, maybe. (Harper might pick up a trick from Bumgarner, responding to obvious questions with simply: “Yeah.”)

But words like that sure are welcome on the heels of one of the worst pitching stretches recent Giants history. It’s a reminder: Madison Bumgarner is still here y’all, and he’ll be here for a while.

He’ll be facing Harper for a while, too. Bumgarner is part of an outstanding young class of left-handers, ranging from Clayton Kershaw to Matt Moore. You can picture a lot of All-Star jerseys coming out of that group, and Harper will be right there with them. He showed why on Wednesday, basically single-handedly dragging the Nationals to the finish line after Gonzalez pitched a gem.

“As a young player, he can make a difference in close games,” Jeremy Affeldt said. “He’s a real sparkplug.”

The homer was Harper’s first hit of the series. His second was a shot off of Affeldt, who said he missed badly with the location and felt lucky that it was just a double. “He probably could have hit it a lot further than that,” Affeldt said.

The diving catch was huge, too, especially a few hours after Harper’s own closer called him out for poor defensive positioning.

“Give the kid credit,” Bochy said. “He bounced back. At his age, to be doing what he’s doing, he seems like a tough kid and he plays the game the right way.”

Harper will likely line up for Bochy in the All-Star Game this summer. Aside from that, the Giants will just have to figure out how to limit the damage. Luckily, the Giants have their own gifted youngster to throw right back at the Nationals.

“The Giants are very lucky to have him,” Harper said of Bumgarner. “Facing a guy like him is a lot of fun and I look forward to those matchups.”

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— One last thing on Harper, the youngest player to hit 12 homers in his team’s first 50 games since Orlando Cepeda did it in 1958: He loves playing here.

“These are the World Champions and we try to come in here and win a ball game against a great team with a great staff and a great organization,” he said. “It’s an electric atmosphere and I love coming here and playing.”

— Marco Scutaro almost wiped out Harper’s second extra-base hit but he came up a few feet short on a blast to left in the 10th. Scutaro’s hitting streak was snapped at 19 games, but it’s still a pretty impressive feat: In 104 games as a Giant, Scutaro has hitting streaks of 20 and 19 games. Bring on the next one, I guess.

— The Giants simply got beat today, they didn’t beat themselves. There was plenty of solid defense and good pitching, so they seem to be over whatever the hell happened last week. “We just ran into a well-pitched game,” Bochy said. “These guys have bounced back well and they have a history of doing that. This is more of our baseball. Sure, it’s a tough loss, but you have to be encouraged by the way we caught the ball and pitched.”

— Santiago Casilla was checked by doctors down at Stanford, but there was no update about his health on Wednesday. We’ll have more on Friday.

— Congrats to pitching coach Dave Righetti, who will be inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday.

— The Giants sold out their 190th consecutive game Wednesday and crossed the million mark for the season. With 1,040,301 paid attendees this season, the Giants lead MLB in total attendance. The Dodgers are the only other team to draw more than a million fans this season.

— According to Diamondbacks beat writer Nick Piecoro, Adam Eaton felt something in his elbow and left his rehab assignment to go get checked out. Eaton was about to return to the big leagues, so that’d be a big blow to the Diamondbacks

My heads still buzzing from that ballgame. I think Pence earned a lot of cred for his RF defense today. Strictly speaking, that catch he made was even tougher than that great catch Harper made.

stickman

No shame in today’s game. Two excellent teams with superb LH starters went at it tooth and nail today. Washington has some for-real star players and so does SF. Seems the Giants tend to play to the team they are facing. When they are up against a scrubby squad, their game suffers. But matched with another excellent outfit, they show their stuff.

That all said, a welcome day off for the players (if not us fans) and come Friday its vengeance time for last week’s misadventures in Denver. It’s gonna be time to pulverize the Rox.

channelclemente

stick,

you know you have a point about ‘just enough’. Maybe that’s what ‘grinding’ really means. We have Toronto here as well in a little while for a 2 game series.

South City Jim

Discussed on the previous thread, here’s the link to the article regarding Mattingly’s benching of Ethier. Interesting stuff. Frankly, I could never envision Bochy handling a benching or a player performance issue like this with the press. Bochy might say a player needs a break or is scuffling, but to question a ballplayer’s toughness publicly…especially in baseball. This is definitely the end of the road for one of them.

Mel Ott may have been the Bryce Harper of his day. 42 HRs in his age 20 season.

===

Strasburg – Gonzalez – Zimmerman is mighty formidable. It’s hard to drop them in the power rankings, but as Jim said, not enough length in their lineup. Werth will help, for what it’s …

===

Sounds like Mattingly is trying to get himself fired. Also trying to get Ethier traded. Both could happen. A Ethier plus for Francouer swap was speculated on a baseball site. Now there’s some grit without talent.

Lefty

Ethier traded…because everyone wants an over-30 guy with an $85 mil. contract who can’t hit lefties and whose manager just called him out for not being gritty (or something).

If the Dodgers want to open a spot for Puig or Joc Pederson, they may have to just bite the bullet and turn Ethier into the most expensive bench outfielder since…well, Vernon Wells. Or Aaron Rowand. And Ethier can be a prince in the clubhouse just like Rowand was.

I knew that Ethier extension was a bad idea the minute it happened. They paid a guy whose best years are behind him. Mattingly’s right: The people above him (=Colletti) did a terrible job constructing the roster.

Ryan

Off topic,

but Tommy Carcetti was elected mayor of LA ( or Dodger town ).

Not exactly, but during the early part of Game of Thrones, I was trying to place Little Fingers. Ah – ha! That guy. Good actor.

G of T , season 2 starts tonight.

ClutchUp

Joc Pederson makes me smile. Same HS as Jeremy Lin, Jim Harbaugh and (ugh) his buddy Dave Feldman not to mention hundreds more athletes that have come through there. Steve Bono’s QB/Son and the son of currents 49er QB’s coach.

do you think Gardenhire would move South? Everytime he’s had talent with the Twins, he wins.

ClutchUp

I like Gardy…

channelclemente

CU,

after two last place finishes he’s rumored to be portable. BTW, I have a lot of respect for him as well.

ClutchUp

HaHa Frank Robinson = Not!

ClutchUp

Colletti/Kasten should have grabbed Tito…

Ryan

Phil Jackson? That’s pretty funny. Pat Riley?

Mooooooooooose

Lefty AT 7:34 – Couldn’t have said it any better.

Lefty

Yeah, so Shane Loux’s “audition” in Fresno is not going so well–just gave up a grand slam, now down 7-3 in the fifth.

Next up is Mike Kickham tomorrow night.

Ryan

So if Kickham starts tomorrow night, that would pretty much rule him out of starting Vogey’s Sunday slot.

And how could Lefty trade Andre Eithier? Easy. Send the right amount of cash in the deal.

Boom! Get it done, Ned.

ClutchUp

Minor league report

KNBR

South City Jim

Did Labron get it off in time?

Lefty

Ryan: But perfectly lined up for Tuesday–when they need a fifth starter. They can go with Cain on Sunday and Bum on Monday on normal rest–sounds like that’s the plan. Until it isn’t.

If they’re going to dump Ethier and eat most of his contract, might as well keep him as a fourth outfielder. He’s a fan favorite and, actually, not a bad player. He’s just not worth what they’re paying him.

Bochy Jr dinged up
Hembree dinged up
Heston so so
Fitzgerald promoted, nicked up
Kickham funky hard thrower learned slider from Steve Kline… could get call
Loux per Lefty, uh… No

Gary Brown not struggling in field but is @ the plate + baserunning errors
Peguero not down on his dauber
Pill played some @ 3base per CC
Juan Perez wow offensively but no real def spot.
Hector huge disappointment due to shoulder

At ease
No Ethier….

ClutchUp

NBA fixed
Hibbert on bench
Lebron drives lane

Stern and Selig related

Both need to go and write their memories, can’t spell the other word.

Minor league report was:
Joe Castellanos
Baseballvirus.com

South City Jim

How can Hibbert not be in the game with 2.2 seconds left, up by one? Next thing you’re going to tell me is Nady we’ll be playing LF for the G’s in the 9th inning of game 5 of the NLDS? No way.

Good Inside the Clubhouse tonight with Zito hanging out with Metallica. What a life…beautiful wife, $126 million, two rings, playing ball for a living, hanging with Metallica. Dang.

Sam

Even worse was Hibbert not in the game with 17 seconds left in OT. Lebron took that to the rim for a layup too.

South City Jim

Sam, good point. Entertaining game. Indiana might be the second best team. They’ll give the Heat a better tussle than Spurs or Grizzlies.

South City Jim

Hibbert’s taking it like a man. Says he wasn’t in the game because he wasn’t playing good, not defending Bosch on the perimeter and giving up offensive rebounds. Still should have been in the game.

ClutchUp

The Four Blues Broads are rockin on FM station tonight.

DVD/Freight and Salvage. Went lookin for 95.7 the Game and had a nice surprise.

Clifford Antones @ Slims

KPFA is rockin the House

Oh Happy Day!

Walter Guest

Interesting development at Richmond today. Fabio Castillo, a 24-year-old righty, made his first start in 4 years. Went 4 innings gave up one run on 4 hits, walked none and struckout 7.

On the season, in 28 innings, he’s walked 14 and struck out 36. Opponents are hitting .184 off of him.

That might work.

pacman68

Just watched the game and what a game it was. Great baseball all around. 3 way tie for first and the Dodgers are playing better. It’s going to be a very tight, nerve racking summer.

http://www.okeyburda.com okey

Great baseball all around. 3 way tie for first and the

SurfCity

HI all, I didn’t get to see the day game. But I’m encouraged by the low-scorinig box score, at least on our end for pitching. Because it means pitching did well today, and that’s the key to fixing the Giants. Sure, they didn’t hit today, but that seems to me more consistent and it will likely come back. The great game by the pitchers is really encouraging.

jerseygiant

ClutchUp – Valentine managing Dodgers would be a recurring nightmare for Gonzales, Beckett and Crawford. Also, my son saw Bobby V Saturday at Sacred Heart University
In Connecticut where he is the AD. I don’t think he wants to let the coaches and student athletes down…yet.

totalfan62

Harper’s a special talent, no doubt about it. He will be a superstar in MLB for many years. When he misplayed that ball on Tuesday night, I felt certain he would make a significant contribution to Wednesday’s game.

He’s like a young, unbridled colt, still feeling his way through the MLB process. The veteran players see the talent and passion for the game, and they will mentor him and help refine his game. Great young player.

As for MadBum, he’s already there. Word’s out about our boy, and he will continue to get better. Bum learning from Cainer how to be the leader of the staff, and he’s a fine young man as well.

Two out of three is good. Day of rest is good.

GO GIANTS!!

totalfan62

Moderation for double-S. Argh. Take Two…

Harper’s a special talent, no doubt about it. He will be a superstar in MLB for many years. When he misplayed that ball on Tuesday night, I felt certain he would make a significant contribution to Wednesday’s game.

He’s like a young, unbridled colt, still feeling his way through the MLB process. The veteran players see the talent and pa$$ion for the game, and they will mentor him and help refine his game. Great young player.

As for MadBum, he’s already there. Word’s out about our boy, and he will continue to get better. Bum learning from Cainer how to be the leader of the staff, and he’s a fine young man as well.

Two out of three is good. Day of rest is good.

GO GIANTS!!

walt kovacs

re hebert. there isnt a reporter or analyst in the country that understands those moves…

harper is a very good player and he is slowly maturing as a human being too

re soriano…should get a team fine for his comments…of’s dont position themselves (unless they are mays or bonds) the bench coach does

will be interesting if these two teams meat in the playoffs

Sam

Chuck Barkley was defending the move in the postgame show, at least for the final play of OT.

totalfan62

Couple of additional random thoughts on yesterday:

MadBum’s game shows why pitchers cannot be fairly graded based on W-L. Bum pitches a beautiful game; seven dominant innings, four hits/two walks; one pitch left over the plate turns into an oppo HR and he leaves with a no decision. Good example of why old-school fans need to embrace the detailed pitching statistics now available before they criticize lack of wins.

Brett Pill: you must do better if you plan to get any regular playing time in SF, or MLB for that matter. No doubt Gio Gonzalez was dealing as well, but you’re in there–in the #5 hole–and we need timely hits. Three unproductive outs–including two strikeouts–isn’t getting it done, especially when your team loses a 2-1 game. Yeah, it might not be fair that you get only one day to show your stuff, but that’s the job right now. Make or break time, son.

comouomo

switch pence and crawford in the batting order……for the amount of opportunities that pence has had to drive in runs he should have about 40 rbi’s..he has 23…….he’s lousy in the clutch…….

In the Nationals’ 2-1, 10-inning victory over the San Francisco Giants, Harper rose above the throbbing pain and minor controversy inflicted on him during the Nationals’ West Coast swing. With a thunderous bat, redemptive defense and, finally, his speed on the bases, Harper grabbed the game by the throat and sent the Nationals back to Washington with a win that snapped a four-game skid.

—-

It’s all about the ‘kid’, and the fans are happy with a 4-6 west coast roady. If they’d lost yesterday’s game, and gone home 3-7, the comment board would have been a grim place indeed. They’re happy now.

As for the Giants, seems like the division is at a tipping point. No team has gotten it all together, and Colorodo / Arizona are starting to believe. I would not count the Dodgers out of it either.

What has to happen now is for the starting rotation to take control of the situation. Slugging their way through the western division isn’t a winning strategy for the Giants. How that happens, and who steps up are the questions. I think the team’s two starting pitchers short of a strong run for the division title. Lincecum I don’t think is that answer, Vogey can’t be counted on until late in the season. Who are the new guys going to be? One from the farm and one from the market .. that’s my take.

Matthew

Adam Kilgore is to Red Smith as Alex Pavlovic is to Ring Lardner…

ClutchUp

Como
Beautiful and just brillant add to the board: “move Pence to 8th”

Slide: …and a good take it is. That’s precisely what should happen, and it would be a shame if the “from the farm” guy is the recycled “we’ve already seen that and are unimpressed” group (Loux, Petit, Edlefsen, et.al.).

Not saying some of those guys can’t contribute, but if the Giants are as good at developing young pitchers as touted by us and others, we need to see Kickham, Heston or another young arm step up and give us some quality starts.

The bullpen depth, on the other hand, should give us timely currency for the “market” arm. Again, if we’re good at developing pitchers then relievers like Bochy Jr, Hembree, Runzler, etc should be ready to replace Mijares/Kontos/Lopez so we can package bullpen for another starter.

I don’t think we’ll get much for minor league position players, although Brett Pill truly deserves a chance to play somewhere and he won’t get it with the Giants.

The arms are out there, and I’ll bet we have one before Father’s Day.

comouomo

so “clutch up”, what type of brilliant plan do you have in mind for providing more “clutch” hitting?

totalfan62

Slide Dog says: May 23rd, 2013 at 7:59 am

…seems like the division is at a tipping point. No team has gotten it all together, and Colorodo / Arizona are starting to believe. I would not count the Dodgers out of it either.

———————————————————————–

Well said. NL West teams usually play each other tough, and all five teams will continue that trend this year. Division winner might come in with 88-90 wins and a lower playoff seed, but they will be battle tested for the playoffs.

totalfan62

comouomo says: May 23rd, 2013 at 9:06 am

so “clutch up”, what type of brilliant plan do you have in mind for providing more “clutch” hitting?

————————————————————————-

Seriously? You want clutch hitting, how about Blanco Tuesday night? Posey yesterday in the 8th inning? How about those come-from-behind HRs in AZ earlier this month? Lots more, too.

Hitting–clutch or not–is not the problem: starting pitching is where we need to shore up. As far as putting Pence in the eight hole? Ludicrous, almost as dumb as Crawford hitting fifth. We have a solid, set lineup with a decent bench behind it. Leave well enough alone.

ClutchUp

906 – I have no plan. It seems they are in good hands and no what to do.

Starting P
Bullpen
Defense
Productive outs
Offensive execution

*Doubtful Pence will bat 8th. He’s better than 2012 and he did nor hit 8th in many/any of his previous yrs.

I did hear on the radio yesterday (?) that Nolasco *is* on the Giants radar. In fact, the question was raised to someone from the Giants and the radio person said (after the fact) that they have broke something (as in news).

I’m sorry I don’t have more details, but I was catching the tail end of the discussion and I spaced on whether it was KNBR or “The Game”.

There was also some comment made that the fish would not ask for the world, because of Nolasco’s contract.

Keep’n It Real

oops…”and the radio person said (after the fact) that they MIGHT have broke something (as in news).”

Nontechnical

Last word on the Nats: Boy does Bryce Harper bring some game! And he automatically took responsibility for that missed flyer, even though he didn’t have to. Wish he could be reeled in to the Giants!

It’s all about the ‘kid’, and the fans are happy with a 4-6 west coast roady. If they’d lost yesterday’s game, and gone home 3-7, the comment board would have been a grim place indeed. They’re happy now.
————
Wow, that’s something, isn’t it? Lost a series to the last-place Dodgers, split a series with the under-.500 Padres, and lost a series to the Giants–a team they OWNED last season AND that was fresh off the Worst Road Trip Ever. Finished their trip one game over .500-barely–because they squeaked out an extra-inning win. And the fans are HAPPY?

I guess it’s better than being an Astros fan or a Marlins fan, but this was the team that had the best record last year, supposedly improved this year, and was supposed to cruise to the World Series without breaking a sweat. Shows how quickly perceptions can change.

stickman

The Washington fan-base has never fully recovered from the ‘glory days’ of Clark Griffith where their team was consistently “first in war, first in peace and last in the American League”. Only the league has changed until such time as the Nats break the schnoid.

http://www.na.com orngendblck

It was fun watching the last 2 games. They were both close, well played, with intensity.

Yesterday in the first inning, the Giants had 1st and 3rd Pence up with 1 out. Once last year he pushed a bunt between 1st and 3rd for a hit. I am surprised that in an expected close game he does not try and do that more often. Had he done that successfully in the first, maybe the Nats get an out, but for sure the Giants get a run. Instead Pence struck out on a 3 nasty curve balls. Just saying that there are many ways to score that needed run, some of them not quite so macho but still successful.

Anti-Lasorda

I’m in on Nolasco if the price isn’t more than a Pill or two….and I still have a Belt to hold my big boy pants up.

Tell the Fish we’ll pick up the tab on Ricky’s contract…. drop them a Pill and Perez or something like that and get him here by Tuesday.

The most interesting trade piece for me is Runzler…. I mean 94 , LH with his stuff…. There are pitching coaches out there whispering in their GMs ears they can straighten him out and I’m sure he could draw quite a bit more than we’re going to use him.

Lefty

Anti: Good point on Runzler. He’s got legitimate upside and he’s still young–but tick tock. If the Giants don’t need him anytime soon, might as well trade him if he’s got value.

And they don’t need him anytime soon. I’ve said before that three lefties in the bullpen seems like a lot, so even if one got injured, they’d probably still be OK. Affeldt is here for three years, they still control Mijares after this year, and I wouldn’t be stunned if they bring Lopez back for yet another year or two–he’s been nasty lately after a rough start. Meanwhile they’ve got at least one excellent lefty reliever prospect in Josh Osich at San Jose–maybe others, too.

Maybe it’s time to see what’s out there for Hector Sanchez, too. Quiroz is doing fine as the backup, they have three other catchers in AAA, and Susac in AA. Sounds like a surplus to me.

Anti-Lasorda

Lefty,

Agree on dealing Hector too… if only his shoulder was healthy.

Hector, Runzler, Pill…. That could bring back a starter fer sure. Throw in an Otero and Edlefsen and there is a lot for an opposing GM to work with.

Anti-Lasorda

The two guys you night be able to get right now are Nolasco and Bud Norris…..

Houston though with an interm GM might be smart enough to wait for July or hold out for a Kings Ransom.

Miami on the other hand would take the salary relief tomorrow….

totalfan62

Anti: Word. Let’s go fishing!!

totalfan62

On Runzler: many of us have previously questioned if he could be stretched out to become a starter. I think the Giants had this plan at one time, but perhaps Runzler doesn’t have the mindset, discipline or stamina to throw 100 pitches every fifth day.

To Lefty’s point, he’s strong and sturdy, and he’s 28 years old–no kid. I remember him being plenty steamed when the Giants sent him out this spring. He might need a change of scenery and a fresh start. Either he’s starting or departing, IMHO (apologies to Garry Templeton).

Giant PITA

Nolasco would appear to be a good trade target. I bet he would pitch at a very high level for SF. One would think he’d be pumped to go from the mess that is the fish to a legit contender and reigning world championship org.

Runzler actually did make one start for the Giants back in 2011 on a road trip–I want to say they were in Houston(?). It was when Zito and Sanchez both had sprained ankles (in August).

It didn’t go well. I don’t think Runzler got out of the third inning and he couldn’t stop walking people. A few days later they brought up Eric Surkamp from AA to make his major league debut, and he held down that spot in the rotation until the end of the season.

Richard in Winnipeg

I like the thought of Nolasco, would even look at Kevin C in Minnesota for the right price. He will give a good 6 innings per start and a good chance to win. Maybe coming back to the fold would enhance him. Imagine it would be a dream come true for Nolasco as well.

I remember Runzlers start. Boch was doing the cha-cha (not Orlando) on the dugout steps.

There are 100′s of guyz who have electric stuff in the bullpen, Spring Training games or the back fields of Scottsdale.

He prob needs to go to the AL in a package deal for some Tampa arm. Tampa stockpiles arms.

YMMV … … …

totalfan62

Lefty: re Runzler: August 21, 2011 vs. Astros, as you noted. He went 1 2/3 innings, four runs on three hits and three walks. Yikes.

That was the game in Houston where Belt went 4-for-5 with an HR, playing in front of a large contingent of family and friends (Nagadoches native). Giants scored three in the top of the 2nd, before Runzler imploded, and came back to win the game 6-4. BB9 started in LF and in one inning forgot the number of outs.

This week’s Sports Illustrated cover story: The Cardinal Way, focusing on the development of their (so far) awesome starting rotation. Wish that was us…

channelclemente

It’s sort of time for Runzler to fish or cut bait up here with the ML club. If he can’t fit in either the rotation or pen, he’s taking up a slot someone else can use. BTW, IMO, no one, with exception maybe of Lincecum, has the quality of ‘stuff’ Runzler does, but so what if he can’t find the SZ.

channelclemente

total,

you’re right, what the Cardinals do with pitching talent is remarkable.

“you’re right, what the Cardinals do with pitching talent is remarkable.”

What they do with hitters is pretty remarkable too.

That’s why they’re the best. They’re thinking they should have won two in a row. Will have a good shot at 2 of 3.

orangeandblack

Bums is the real deal. Wonder what Harper will be going for in another four years. Kid can flat-out play. Won the series against the Gnats – rock on Giants!

channelclemente

Albert,

the Cardinals play in the NL Central, a hitters paradise.

oil can boyd

Anti-L
I believe Otero is now the closer for Sacramento with the As.
I agree Pill, Runzler and Sanchez would probably be enough to get Nolasco.

Lefty

Totalfan: I remember that game! Belt’s family were all wearing T-shirts that said “Keep Belt Awkward.” I’d forgotten that it was also Runzler’s one ill-fated start.

Another interesting detail about that game. Sandoval could only hit from the left side because he’d hurt his shoulder. In the 7th inning or so, a lefty reliever came in, but Sandoval insisted on staying in the game and batting lefty even though as a switch-hitter he never goes lefty-on-lefty. He had a very poor AB, but it turned out to be significant that he stayed in: He won the game in extra innings with a homer off the righty reliever who had come in!

That was the trip where I appreciated what a gamer Sandoval truly is. Not only did he take one for the team by batting lefty there (something Beltran refused to do under the same circumstances), but he had fouled a ball hard off his foot a few days earlier and could barely hobble. K & K thought he’d broken his foot. But the team needed him, and he kept playing. His Bondsian game-winning HR this week when he could barely stand from the flu was another example.

Lefty

I’m not sure I want to give up Hector for Nolasco. Pill and Runzler, sure. They don’t seem to have much of a future with the Giants, and they’re both 28 years old. But Nolasco’s a fifth starter, expensive, and a rental. 23-year-old Hector may be one of the best trade chips the Giants possess. For just a few months of Nolasco (and this ain’t Cliff Lee we’re discussing), Hector sounds like an overpay.

channelclemente

ocb,

that’s way to much for Nolasco. He’s a number 4 or 5 in a rotation, and just barely that these days. He lives and dies off his cut fastball, and Mariano Rivera he’s not. LHB, are giving no end of trouble these days. His HR/FB rate is ~10%. His numbers/data

I don’t think it would take that much for Nolasco…. he’s 1/4 of the Marlins payroll, the would be ecstatic to dump him if you picked up the bill. Maybe just one or two of the names and assuming the ~$9M owed would do it.

Now it whether Brian can get Larry to sign off on the payroll rise……

Anti-Lasorda

OCB,

I don’t think it would take that much for Nolasco…. he’s 1/4 of the Marlins payroll, the would be ecstatic to dump him if you picked up the bill. Maybe just one or two of the names and as$uming the ~$9M owed would do it.

Now it whether Brian can get Larry to sign off on the payroll rise……

Lefty

For Nolasco, if it’s only money (haha–it’s not MY money) and a couple of prospects they’re not really using, they should go for it. The alternatives are not inspiring and it could be a long two months before Vogelsong is back.

Going down memory lane about 2011 and starts for Runzler and Surkamp has jolted me into reality. And the end of 2011 was when times were GOOD. They had six major league starters AND Surkamp in the wings. Then they traded Sanchez, Surkamp got injured–and then there were five. Now there are four.

Also, that’s when Lincecum was still one of the top five starters in the NL. Sighhhhh.

Anti-Lasorda

Thanks for the heads up on Otero. I wonder where he went. Channel had mentioned his name in another thread and he was in the front of the grey matter. My point was there are low level chips to go get something like Nolasco if you were inclined to pick up the bill and not have to give away any of the more highly thought of prospects.

Ideally, you want to sell the Marlins on guys that have had a cup of coffee with you, but you don’t see in your long term plans.

Runzler, Pill, Edlefsen all fit that bill. If Otero was still here, as well as Gillespie you could think about it.

Another name I might mention to swing would be Kontos. I see him as someone you would think about moving for the right price. Granted in my mind it would be a higher price.

I thought George might turn into Romo part deux, and he still might but the results this year have suggested he maybe a one trick pony. I know his overuse has contributed some, but he doesn’t look like the same guy as last year, and I think he going to have to add something to his slider to stay up. Teams now have a book on him, and he’ll need to adjust to survive. His slider is better than Edelfsen’s, being of the no dot variety, but it’s not in Romo’s frisbee golf league. And remember, until Romo added the change up he wasn’t who he is now.

~YMMV

Matthew

I see the Cardinal love… Ad they are quite deserving. A great organization with continuous positive results. Though LaRussa tended to be a burr in my privates, he could manage and always seemed to get the most out of players that others discarded.

A couple of points-I am also a Metheny fan.. Good man and I was certainly sad how his career ended, but we were better for his time with us. However, he had best improve his in game tactics. I felt Bruce schooled him last playoffs.

Also, as for their amazing pitching -two of the guys on the cover are out for extended periods: I believe Garcia is done for the year, and Westbrook has been doing the DL dance for awhile now. What they do appear to have is a pretty healthy flow of young arms to keep strong. We seem to feel we don’t have that, but who can possibly know until they pitch up here with Raggs, Gardy, Bruce, and the (mostly stellar) defense, better (relatively speaking) strike zones, fat per dimes, Lou’s fans at a packed house, and every conceivable benefit a young deer in the headlights can have?

That’s what’s up!

Sorry, was on a roll and had a Romobomb moment

Moooooooooooose

They shouldn’t have to give up hardly anyone for Nolasco – maybe some single A longshot at most if they’re taking his salary.

Matthew

Per diems and loud fans…the rest holds…

Lefty

Matthew, I thought you were dropping in a Lou Seal reference there with “Lou’s fans…”

Albert C.

Mooooooooose is right about what it would take to land Nolasco. Not much given the money that could potentially exchange hands.

===

The Kickham watch is on tonight. I should get myself down to the yard. It’s not for long that the weather is this nice in Fresno area.

Good catch by Lefty yesterday (glove on right hand): Kickham would be lined up for Tuesday perfectly given all hands pitch normal days rest.

ClutchUp

Correction:

Chris Brown was a late scratch for “sleeping on his eye wrong.” RIP Chris, you were misunderstood by most of us.

there is some unsubstantiated rumor traffic that Drew Storen may be in the wind.

Yogi Barrister

Bryce Harper handled Soriano’s criticism with grace. He rubs certain people the wrong way and those people end up looking bad. Just ask Cole Hamels. He’s the kind of player you hate when he’s on the other team, but love when he’s on yours.

Anti-Lasorda

Last year the Giants wore blue as a primary color to adorn their traditional orange?

Gs have worn pinstripes both red and blue at different times. They have had solid black unis, used brown as a primary color and yes, even wore plaid Scotish tartan Unis in 1916.

Orange wasn’t a color on G’s uniforms until 1923.

The current color scheme was only a trial from 1933-35 and wasn’t adopted full time until 1947.

That’s odd, someone has hacked my WordPress account and changed the avatar. Oh well, avatars are like tombstones, I no longer have a need for mine.
TYJmL&s

Anti-Lasorda

Storen is a good add, but he can’t start.

Albert C.

The answer to your noon time trivia is :

Marco Scutaro.

He is second on the Giants in RC+ behind Buster Posey. Followed by Sandoval then Pence.

Thank you for playing.

oil can boyd

Anti- L-
Instead of Sanchez (agreed he is too much of an asset) how about Jake Dunning or Jacob Dunnington (2 different people- both minor league pitchers in Gs organization). It would end the confusion (like when Gillaspie was traded and Gillespie was kept). One of those guys plus Pill and Runzler would do it for Nolasco.

channelclemente

Anti,

no, but he can pitch. As you might have noticed, that’s getting to be a rare talent.

Albert C.

Are you impressed with Storen’s stats in 2013?

Were the Cardinals impressed with his stuff in the 2012 NLDS ?

YMMV

channelclemente

wOBA differential and ‘sequencing’, the measure of being “clutch”? Fascinating look at the Cubs, who are playing, as far as wOBA is concerned, head and head with the Giants.

Storen’s ability to me isn’t about his mediocre stats, it’s about what one can see in his arsenal, and what Righetti could do to maximize it.

Lefty

I’m not really sure why the Giants would need Storen (to replace Casilla, I guess?), but he’d probably be a good add. He wouldn’t have to be THE guy. We have Romo. I have a lot of confidence in what happens when relievers come to the Giants. Storen would also be good insurance if something happened to Romo. It would be a lot to bring up Hembree and instantly make him the closer.

Casilla was the back-up. I guess Affeldt is, too, but Casilla actually has a pretty good track record as a closer. If Casilla needs knee surgery and is out for a couple months, a veteran reliever is not a bad idea.

oil can boyd

CC- The Nats are so short on lefty relievers they had someone in the bullpen yesterday named Fernando ABAD (not kidding) who was cut by the Astros. Maybe the Gs could trade Runzler for Storen, and use Edelfsen as one of the trade chips (instead of Runzler) for Nolasco.

Lefty

OCB: You have a mean streak, wanting to send Edlefsen to the Marlins. Haven’t they suffered enough?

But yeah, GREAT call on a lefty reliever to the Nats. Including Runzler, we have FOUR. We can spare one. They can have Mijares if they want someone with more experience than Runzler.

channelclemente

In the end, wiser heads will prevail with the Nationals, I’d suspect, unless their crazy owner tags Storen as ‘an attitude problem’. You know how hungry franchises and especially their fans can find a scapegoat.

oil can boyd

Lefty- most of the guys in Fresno are not going to be on the Gs- it would be a break for someone like Edelfsen to get a chance in the majors, even with a bad team like Miami.
Also, the Nats new lefty Fernando ABAD is what Herb Caen would have used in his “Namephreak” (or aptronym) section of his column- Fernando is A BAD pitcher – cut by Houston with a lifetime won/loss 1-11 with a WHIP of nearly 2. Nats would love to have Mijares or Runzler instead and ditch Storen with the bad memories of 2012.

channelclemente

ocb, Lefty,

somehow there would be some strange symmetry to Storen coming to the team that benefited most from his largess to the Cardinals.

Albert C.

Can you guys swing a big trade ?

These swapping of relievers is like shuffling the deck chairs on the S.S. Minnow.

Lefty

OCB: I meant mean to the Marlins, not Edlefsen. And I was kidding. I was the one being mean, not you. Not a member of the Edlefsen fan club, but it’s not personal. I’m sure he’s a fine young man.
————

And yeah, the Nats should just keep Storen. He didn’t lose that game/series to the Cardinals all by himself. The Nats coughed up a six-run lead, and that wasn’t ALL Storen. Also, if they had used Strasburg in one or two of those games instead of Edwin Jackson, I bet that series doesn’t even go five. If they’re scapegoating Storen, that’s silly. Who would do that?

(Oh, yeah. Joe Nathan. 2003. Aaarghhhh.)

But a team with high aspirations like the Nats can’t have too much depth in the bullpen. What if something happened to Soriano? Closers drop like flies.

Keep’n It Real

Not to get Sonya all riled up, but Nolasco might not be a rental if Timmy decides to leave…and/or I’m totally wrong on Zito staying put.

You also have to remember that Nolasco would be working with Righetti, so perhaps he learns a new thing or two. We already knows he battles and likes AT&T. Heck…maybe his performance picks up because he no longer pitches for an owner that only cares about himself *and* he’ll part of the SF Giants’ starters “family”.

The Cardinals Way? (insert big and loud bronx cheer here)

SI keeps building up other team’s pitching staffs (remember their cover story on the Phillies with Cliff Lee?)…and our staff is the one that has won 2 of the last 3 World Series…and perhaps 2011 if Buster doesn’t get hurt.

When the last time SI has done a cover story on the Giants? Heck, even the 2012 World Series issue was “regional”.

Lefty

Ryan, uh, Albert: The Giants have two problems. We’re all focused on the big gaping hole in the starting rotation, but one way or another, someone WILL be starting for the Giants next Tuesday.

The loss of Casilla, if it’s for any length of time, could be huge. I assumed they’d back-fill from all the depth in Fresno, but if you could swap one of the excess lefties to get a talented veteran reliever to put in that 7th-8th inning spot, that’s not the worst idea in the world, not at all.

channelclemente

Soriano is positively Beltran like in how he can undermine a team. What a stupid comment on his part to criticize Harper after the kid tries to pull a pitcher’s mistake out of the fire by running headlong into a wall in Dodger stadium. What was just released today is that Harper retweaked his knee on that sliding catch and Davey Johnson was going to pull him from the game. Harper’s response, The hell you are, I can go. Money doesn’t buy that kind of determination. That kids a ballplayer, Soriano..not so much.

dgg

Alex has an off-day (day-off?) web story up about options to replace Vogelsong in the rotation.

Excerpt:

“The Giants have several options, starting in the big leagues with long reliever Chad Gaudin. The veteran right-hander has a 2.08 ERA, but both Bochy and Sabean pointed out this week that Gaudin is extremely valuable to a bullpen that often has to make up for short starts by Lincecum and Barry Zito.

In the minors, Shane Loux and Mike Kickham are thought to be the top options. Loux, a 33-year-old right-hander, had been pitching well before giving up seven earned runs on Wednesday night. Kickham is the organization’s fifth-best prospect according to Baseball America, a tall, lanky left-hander who throws a low 90s fastball and has a deceptive delivery. Kickham entered Thursday night’s start with a 1.80 ERA in his previous four appearances.

Sabean said the Giants are leaning in one direction, although the plan could change after just one start. With three off days in the first 10 days of June, the Giants have plenty of flexibility and Sabean said the team may “go start to start through the next part of the schedule.”"

Giants Extra is like Gilligan’s Island. We can’t seem to get off, yet others come and go all the time.

===

CC,

Beltran and his .305 avg, 10 HRs, and 29 RBI’s is undermining the bejeezus out of the first place Cardinals. It’s like the floor opens up below their foot heels…

Foot Heels Ryan

And Paul, I’m glad you don’t have to worry about deck chairs on your Minnow. They’re nothing but a hassle.

channelclemente

Foot,

my feelings about Beltran and the reasons have been clearly, multiple times, articulated. A team playing baseball, imo, is about more than simply statistics. But be that as it may, maybe Carlos has found religion and changed from the backstabbing, louse he was. Then again, it’s a long season, isn’t it.

Foot Heels Ryan

And Paul, I’m glad you don’t have to worry about deck chairs on your Minnow. They’re nothing but a ha$sle.

===

Mike Kickham begins his audition for Tuesday night in a little more than an hour and a half.

Should be a good game to watch. He’ll oppose one of the Astros top pitching prospects, Zack Cosart. He’s one of the guys the Phillies traded for Hunter Pence.

Foot Heels Ryan

“Backstabbing louse”

That’s a pretty ridiculous thing to call him. Is that exaggeration for effect or can you cite instances of his parasitic nature and slanderous attacks on teammates?

If you just call him a primadonna or diva, you won’t sound so ridiculous. He’s really not a whole lot different from Bonds. And the gap in talent isn’t all that much either. Hard to say if Beltran juiced or not, but I don’t think it was to the extent that Bonds did.

That is all on this matter. Good evening to you, good sir.

channelclemente

Foot,

my problem with Beltran have little to do with his primadonna like affectation that you seem stuck on. Rather it relates to the role he played in the managerial turnover with the Mets. As far as Bonds is concerned, I think, as I’ve stated before, he should be in prison now, or should have recently finished serving his sentence. Bonds is no hero of mine, but a character in a tragedy that hasn’t yet paid the appropriate price. He is, IMO, a man absent any integrity at all.

Foot Heels Ryan

All the world’s a stage…

Lefty

I don’t recall ever hearing a story about Beltran badmouthing a teammate like Soriano did with Harper. When you remember that Harper’s only 20 years old and took a very bad spill into the wall at Dodger Stadium just eight days earlier AND has been the best player on the team this year–well, it’s just breathtaking. And not in a good way.

During and after Beltran’s time on the Giants, I heard stories from players like Sandoval and even Cody Ross and Torres about how Beltran helped them with their swings during batting practice. So I have no reason to think that one on one, he wasn’t a good teammate.

What I didn’t like about him was that he didn’t seem to care much about the team. He took his own sweet time coming back from what sounded like a pretty minor injury and wouldn’t play until he could swing from both sides (unlike Sandoval, who only batted left-handed for the last month because of a shoulder injury–but didn’t miss any time on the DL). He didn’t hustle on balls in right field–I was at one game like that in September. And he very noticeably didn’t celebrate things like Sandoval’s cycle and DeRosa’s walk-off hit in September.

It seemed to be all about him–that he didn’t want to rush back from an injury or hustle in the outfield because he was playing for a new contract. And once it was clear to him that the Giants were not going to get him to the World Series that year, he didn’t seem to care about being here or about bonding with his teammates as a group.

He just didn’t seem like a good fit to me, and talented as he is, I was ready to see him go and not sorry when he signed elsewhere. I don’t need to demonize him, but I don’t miss him at all, either.

Bapah

AMEN, CC

Foot Heels Ryan

CC,

one more observation: Beltran’s line looks more like Sandoval’s these days. He’s not taking the walks he used to. Patience was one of his hallmarks.

Matt Carpenter seems to be doing just fine in the walk department: .387 OBP. Must be nice to pull kids off the farm like that and have to fight to find them a spot.

Foot Heels Ryan

Some observations about CB may be accurate, but most of them fall under the umbrella of confirmation bias. It’s just one of our interpersonal accounting shortcuts.

channelclemente

…or he just may be a louse.

Lefty

Ryan: Well, you’re probably right. As I said, I read stories about him helping teammates with their swings. And I don’t remember anyone saying anything bad about him.

The Sandoval cycle and the DeRosa walk-off were just really noticeable; it was all on TV. When Sandoval hit the triple to complete the cycle, the whole Giants dugout was going nuts–except for Beltran, who just sat on the bench completely unengaged and looking bored/sullen. (And of course, I don’t know how he FELT. That’s just how it LOOKED to me.)

The DeRosa walk-off was such a nice moment, even late in a season that had gone down the tubes. DeRosa had been such a good teammate and everyone loved him, and he had so few special moments as a Giant. You could tell everyone loved being able to pound on him, and he loved it, too. Then the cameras cut to the dugout. While the rest of the team was on the field mobbing DeRosa, there was Beltran, gathering his stuff and heading down the stairs.

I had no particular bias of any type against him. I was happy when they made the trade. But I saw those moments–and the non-hustle at the game I was at–and yes, I drew my conclusions. It wouldn’t make it into a scientific peer-reviewed journal, no, but as a fan, it was enough evidence to convince me that there was no chemistry there, for whatever reason.

Lefty

Off-Day Off-Topic:

Dwight Howard says he’d be interested in joining the Warriors.

Good God, please no.

The Oracle’s Ex-Wife

Lefty is right about everything today, and even took a shot at Edlefsen. I like it.

channelclemente

Lefty,

is there a collective noun for lice?

totalfan62

Once again it’s a “what lefty said” re Beltran. He came to our 2011 team with a huge “me first” chip on his shoulder. Wouldn’t move to LF so Nate could play RF. Beltran quote “RF is the position I chose to play this year”. Remember Baggs post on Beltran? “Cold-blooded reptile”. Might be an OK guy, but he wasn’t for us.

Lefty

Lice IS the plural noun. The singular is “louse.” That’s where the adjective “lousy” comes from.

channelclemente

But is there a collective for lice/louse, like a pride of lice, or an itch of lice, maybe.

Foot Heels Ryan

I may be a “louse-y” fake-NBA-GM,

but I say BOOM!, get that done with Howard. Put him in the middle.

Amnesty, extradite or deport Biedrins (whatever it is they do)

and go win a championship!

Foot Heels Ryan

Not sure if CB is the same kind of cold blooded reptile that Donald Rumsfeld is, but YMMV.

Foot Heels Ryan

Reptile blood is also pretty much ambient. So big misnomer from the Jeopardy champ.

ClutchUp

CC

What’s the origin of the Storen story?

Lefty

No thanks. I’d rather have Beltran on the Warriors than Dwight Howard.

But the article I read said it could be done via sign-and-trade with the Lakers (to get around the cap issue) and that they’d probably want Barnes and Lee. Or Barnes and Bogut.

LOL on “extradite” Biedrins, though. What’s his crime: assault on the art of free throws?

Lefty

No thanks. I’d rather have Beltran on the Warriors than Dwight Howard.

But the article I read said it could be done via sign-and-trade with the Lakers (to get around the cap issue) and that they’d probably want Barnes and Lee. Or Barnes and Bogut.

LOL on “extradite” Biedrins, though. What’s his crime: he can’t shoot free throws? You have to extradite Bogut, too.

Lefty

OK, back to baseball. Anyone know how the Giants are thinking about Jesus Galindo? He was a top-20 prospect last season but seemed to fall off the chart after an injury-marred season at Augusta. But before that he stole 47 bases(!) in 62 games at short-season Salem-Keizer!

This season he’s back at Augusta and hitting .314 with an OBP of .400, 25 walks to 39 Ks in 150 ABs. 26 steals already and caught 5 times. Plays CF. No power to speak of.

Sounds like a younger version of Blanco but maybe with even better base-stealing chops. He’s Venezuelan and will be 23 in June.

channelclemente

CU,

complete unconfirmed chatter in the East Coast blogs. I don’t even remember where I read it. I did post the suggestion on a WaPo blog about the Nationals bullpen woes a little while ago. I haven’t been back to see what the responses were. I even suggested a straightup flip for Runzler.

The WaPo sports section has even intimated that Storen may be a lost cause because of his supposed ongoing funk about last years game with the Cardinals.

I like a Harveywallbanger of lice myself.

ClutchUp

I was sitting directly opposite CB when he caught a med-deep can of corn and Gwynn Jr tagged from 2nd and took third with EASE. SIR Carlos was flummoxed.

Most of ATT booed loudly. I snicked. I don’t boo.

The next day with Miller asking Bochy what happened, Boch kind of stammered and said “Uh Gwynn surprised Carlos”

Snorkel was ticked, took Boch’s number 15 also. :=/

ClutchUp

*snickered*

channelclemente

A posting from a Toronto Blue Jays fan/friend of mine. In it, she answers a vexing question that many baseball fans have wondered about. I had sent her a fellow I reads words said at his Grandfathers funeral, about Shannon Stewart.

“cc… LOL, what a great story. And if you were a Shan­non Stew­art fan, as I was, you wouldn’t con­sider it unlikely, either.

My favorite baseball-​​grandparent story is about my grand­mother, who was a very ele­gant lady of a bygone era. (Since you and I are about the same age, I think you can pic­ture that era.) Once, many years ago, she told me she dis­ap­proved of my love for base­ball. “You shouldn’t even watch that, dear,” she said. “It’s so vul­gar.”

“Vul­gar”? I asked, mys­ti­fied as I often was by her obser­va­tions. “What’s vul­gar about baseball?”

“The way they… they scratch them­selves,” she said.

“Scratch them­selves?”

“Look,” she said, indi­cat­ing the catcher in a crouch behind the plate. “Watch him scratch­ing his… his parts.”

“Grandma,” I said, watch­ing the guy’s fin­gers fly­ing near his crotch. “Those are sig­nals. He’s giv­ing sig­nals to the pitcher to tell him what kind of ball to throw.”

My grand­mother peered at the TV, clearly unmoved. “You’d defend them no mat­ter what awful thing they were doing,” she said, and swept out of the room”

http://nada paul in p.v.

Snorks thought CB was a tick on the body Gigante – using them to pad his stats for his contract run. A super-talented, selfish punk.

Foot Heels Ryan

Galindo = was top twenty in Giants system.

I don’t think he projects to have any power, so that’s the knock against him.

http://nada paul in p.v.

C/C – HAW!!!

Foot Heels Ryan

Kickham with 2 scoreless in the books. 2 hits. 1 K, 5 ground balls.

Foot Heels Ryan

The temperature of a tick’s blood is probably pretty close to yours. So long as it’s suckin’.

channelclemente

I’ll give that to Kickham, he wants an audition with the big club and he’s trying to earn it. Good luck, young man.

channelclemente

Foot,

shh, you’re blowing your cover(s).

Foot Heels Ryan

I think tonight is Kickham’s audition for the call up.

He just got through a clean 3rd. Picked up a K.

The Oracle

An absolute and resounding NO to Dwight Howard for the Warriors. The contracts of Biedrins, Jefferson and Bogut come off the books in 2014, which is over $30 million in cap space. Lebron James will likely be a free agent in 2014. It’s probably a pipe dream, but it would at least be financially possible.

Foot Heels Ryan

Perez with an RBI double off a high quality arm.

Foot Heels Ryan

What’s in that pipe, Oracle?

Foot Heels Ryan

Gary Brown stinKs. Sorrry.

ClutchUp

FHR

Check your Avatar @ JoBu’s door. Who is it? Where did Peggy go?

channelclemente

To those enamored with Dwight Howard, do you recall how he left Orlando, and more particularly, how many potential teams he said he was ‘interested’ in. He made a fool out of them, and then set about destroying the Lakers.

Foot Heels Ryan

CU,

That was Kirby Puckett.

Kruk above :–)

What’s next?

===

Heard sports radio spec that Lebron would go back to Cleveland to right a wrong.

channelclemente

So, on normal rest Kickham would be on schedule to pitch next Tuesday at Oakland.

Foot Heels Ryan

CC,

as first reported by Giants Insider, Lefty.

Foot Heels Ryan

Kickham with 61 pitches through 5. 5 baserunners, Zero runs.

Foot Heels Ryan

Gary Brown K’d in his first 2 ABs. Just homered in his third.

ClutchUp

Kickham should he pitch next @ O.O should IBB Cespedes twice in that game.

Cespedes currently one of only three TRUE 5 tool players. Granted he can’t stay off the DL.

Cespedes
Harper
Trout

Closing fast: Manny Machado
Mike Stanton where have you gone?
Is Granderson OFF the juice this yr?

Granderson=Brady Anderson?

ClutchUp

A svelte Kirby Puckett…

Any relationship FHR?

Foot Heels Ryan

Yes!!

ClutchUp

Mothers side or Fathers?

ClutchUp

Alex on KNBR right now!

Foot Heels Ryan

Kickham’s night is done after 94 pitches.

6.1 IP

4 hits, 3 walks, 4 Ks

Seemed he lost command of K zone to a couple batters, but was throwing lots of ground balls. 2 double plays behind him, even with an OF at 2B (Gillespie).

I’d say he did well enough in his audition and deserves at shot on Tuesday.

Foot Heels Ryan

Underground railroad. Late 1800′s. Choo – Choo !!

ClutchUp

Sounds like Sabes called it a “headscratcher” and it might be Tuesday or the next week after that for Kick….

ClutchUp

Earthquake … Susanville ….

Lefty

Yep, we felt it here in Davis…swaying, like being on a boat. Funny, though, my high-strung dog didn’t notice a thing.

Mooooooooooose

My dog ran into the doorway and started barking!

oil can boyd

Foot Heels- CB2 (Cold Blooded Carlos Beltran) started hot last year and cooled off at the end of the season (remember October 2012). Age will catch up with him again like every season (remember 2011)

ClutchUp

Out on a limb here:

Mike Trout
Bryce Harper

Either could compare to Mantle.

For some reason, I’m leaning towards Harper.

ClutchUp

Sabean expects Casilla to “miss some significant time”

Sabes was SHH.

ClutchUp

Mt Vernon Washington

I-5 Bridge goes down. No known casualties

Doughnut

Clutch i was thinking about what you were saying about Wotus positioning of the infield. If you look at Desmond’s GW hit off of Affeldt, he was pitching him away the whole AB (didnt even bust him in once for show) and Desmond was looking away the entire time. So it doesnt make sense to me why Scutaro was playing him so far up the middle. He was partially holding Harper on but if you look at the infield they were all playing him too pull. He had a HUGE hole on the right side and he found it and that was it.
The Giants can look back to the first inning for why they lost. Gio had a lot of pressure on him to salvage a game and if the Giants get to him early maybe they rattle him.
I just feel like every Bumgarner start should be won. He is that good this year. He is one of the best pitchers in the league and i still think he is underrated nationally. He IS that good this year. You have to win his starts. That one is just bugging me for some reason. It was a well played game and you can’t be too mad. But we gotta get Bum’s starts.

Lefty

I agree with Doughnut. When Bum pitches like that, you’ve got to win. It’s not like the rest of the rotation is rock-solid these days. I missed a lot of the game due to a meeting at work, but I did see the first inning. Angel and Scoots did a great job of setting the table, but then Buster hacked at the first pitch (which he does way too much this year) and Pence and Pill both looked very bad striking out. That proved to be a turning point.

I’m happy the starters came back from that week-long vacation they took (of the “National Lampoon” variety), but I’m not thrilled that the Giants failed to sweep a series in which they gave up four runs total–and nearly also lost the second game if Harper hadn’t misplayed Blanco’s RBI triple in the ninth.

I know they won a series from a good team, and I know Strasburg and Gio are very good pitchers–but you gotta win Bum’s starts.

http://nada paul in p.v.

I don’t understand the delay on the SP decision – aren’t the Giants short one body right now (24)? With the starters still underperforming they need every arm they can get – get Kickham up today, do he gets used to the ATT environment. Boom! gilligan

Foot Heels Ryan

Here’s the Bee’s write up on Kickham’s effort last night and the likelihood he gets the call:

Paul, they DL’ed Vogey & Casilla and called up Pill and Rosario, so they have 25.

You have a good point about getting Kickham used to the atmosphere if he’s going to start, but calling him up a few days earlier would mean either one guy fewer in the bullpen or on the bench. Of course, if they do call him up for Tuesday, they’ll have to do that anyway–so it’s a matter of doing so earlier than you have to.

I watched a bit of the Fresno game on my Milb.TV. I thought Kickham looked OK–not overpowering, but he made the pitches when he had to. As a lefty, he looks more like MadBum than Zito, but not exactly like either.

It was funny, though–right as Ryan posted “Gary Brown stinks,” I turned on the game and saw him make two good catches (the second to start a DP) and hit a homer!

Oh, and you know who looked really good? Hembree for the save. He was throwing gas.

http://nada paul in p.v.

Gracias for the report Lefty – it makes no sense to be short a body over the weekend. Good news re Hembree – he was impressive this Spring – just something about his presence on the mound indicates it’s his time.

wine baroness

Maybe Kontos goes down…

Hembree comes up and Gaudin starts…

maybe…

Lefty

I bet it depends how things go with Timmy & Z tonight and tomorrow. If they don’t use Gaudin in either game, maybe he gets the start on Tuesday. Of all the options, he has the most experience starting major league games:

Heston & Kickham: 0
Petit: 1 (injured anyway)
Loux: 13
Gaudin: 75

Of course, Gaudin wasn’t a GOOD starter, but at least he knows the territory.

Anyway, I’ve decided Gaudin’s my new favorite player. When I was looking up his stats, I discovered that his child is named “Gunnar Gator Gaudin.” GATOR. That’s even better than my former favorite Giant baby name: Jagger Huff. (Gaudin’s from the Big Easy, of course.)

Lefty

I think we’ll see Hembree soon, especially if Casilla is having surgery. Maybe in about two weeks. Juuuuuust long enough so he won’t be a Super Two.

But he looks ready to me, and they’re going to need him.

Lefty

Oh, and I neglected Boof Bonser: 60 major league starts.

Slide Dog

Morning coffee, long weekend coming up, no bridges down in the South Bay (yikes!) and the Dodgers behind the Padres in the standings. It’s a good day.

It’ll be even better if Lincecum shows some metal and steps it up against the Rockies tonite. Funny how with Vogelsong out, the rotation seems more solid .. in an odd sort of way. Despite the hole, I really only worry about Lincecum. Zito seems to have found a groove where even his bad games aren’t ridiculous, like they were last year.

Like the beer commercials say … here we go!

Albert C.

I do believe the Tuesday call hinges on how much Gaudin’s arm gets chewed up in Zito’s start. He can get chewed on tonight and bounce back Tuesday. But if he has to throw 60 pitches in the Zito start, then they make the call to Fresno. Of course, same for Cain & Bumgarner, but there most likely to strap on their horsey harnesses.

Lefty,

did you get a gun reading on MiLB TV? Greenwald does a great job of filling the air and keeping the game moving, but he doesn’t report the stadium gun readings.

If I were to guess, I’d venture 89-91. Not overpowering, but nobody said he was Clayton Kershaw or Gio Gonzalez.

Induced ground balls and other than the 2 batters he lost the zone on, he threw strikes. That’s all you can ask for.

Larry

Regarding the Dodgers, I say anything bad happening to that team is good for the Giants and good for me. I hate that team, always have and always will. They won a few NL pennants back in the 60′s when the Giants had the better team, but not necessarily the better manager. ’65 and ’66 really stand out for me as seasons the Giants should have won the pennant and the WS.
The Dodgers thought they could buy the pennant and WS last year. I’m not the least sorry that all that money didn’t bring them anything but plenty of scorn from many baseball fans.

Albert C.

Paul

Maryanne.

Girl next door.

ClutchUp

Wills MVP belonged to Mays.

Just ask Mavo.

Writers were infatuated with 104 SB’s.

Highway robbery.

Lefty

“Albert”: No gun readings, same as you, and goodness me, Doug Greenwald likes to talk. At one point when I was watching Hembree in the ninth, he was going on and on about the three-generation baseball Boone family–I forget why this was relevant, but let’s just say that the connection between the Boones and the Grizzlies’ game was stream-of-consciousness at best–and couldn’t come up with Aaron Boone’s brother, Bret. I was screaming “Bret” at the screen as he was fumbling…”Why can’t I think of the other one’s name…this is embarrassing…”

NO ONE CARES, DOUG. Not about the Boones. Not about if you can remember Bret’s name. Hembree is trying to close out his 13th save. Talk about THAT.

As for Kickham, yeah, he didn’t look overpowering to me and he got behind a few hitters when I was watching, but he made his pitches when he needed to. However, one of those DPs was not a ground ball–it was a fly ball that Brown caught and then doubled the runner off first–the runner had inexplicably taken off on a more-or-less routine fly ball and was almost at third. In any case, easy DP for Brown and Kickham there.

Hembree looked really, really good. Throwing heat, throwing strikes. Gave up one hard-hit double with two outs but then calmly got the last guy looking. Jackson Williams (the catcher) seemed pretty excited about that last strikeout, but ol’ Heath just strolled off the mound and shook his hand. He’s now tied for the PCL lead in saves.

Lefty

“Albert”: No gun readings, same as you, and goodness me, Doug Greenwald likes to talk. At one point when I was watching Hembree in the ninth, he was going on and on about the three-generation baseball Boone family–I forget why this was relevant, but let’s just say that the connection between the Boones and the Grizzlies’ game was stream-of-consciousness at best–and couldn’t come up with Aaron Boone’s brother, Bret. I was screaming “Bret” at the screen as he was fumbling…”Why can’t I think of the other one’s name…this is embarra$$ing…”

NO ONE CARES, DOUG. Not about the Boones. Not about if you can remember Bret’s name. Hembree is trying to close out his 13th save. Talk about THAT.

As for Kickham, yeah, he didn’t look overpowering to me and he got behind a few hitters when I was watching, but he made his pitches when he needed to. However, one of those DPs was not a ground ball–it was a fly ball that Brown caught and then doubled the runner off first–the runner had inexplicably taken off on a more-or-less routine fly ball and was almost at third. In any case, easy DP for Brown and Kickham there.

Hembree looked really, really good. Throwing heat, throwing strikes. Gave up one hard-hit double with two outs but then calmly got the last guy looking. Jackson Williams (the catcher) seemed pretty excited about that last strikeout, but ol’ Heath just strolled off the mound and shook his hand. He’s now tied for the PCL lead in saves.

stickman

Judging from last night’s performance against a good Oklahoma team (a DeRangers franchise, i believe), Giants fans may well get a kick outta the next callup. Looks like going deep into games may be a bit of a problem for the kid but it does appear he has really improved his K-BB ratio. Also grounders to the infield looks like a good sign.

Anyway, that name will pose all sortsa fun for all the wordsmiths on the blog as well as throughout the MLB commentariat.

Lefty

Oh, I’d like to thank the Ex-Mrs. Oracle for the shout-out last night. I felt a little bad about dissing Edlefsen, but I guess I can also be a Gamer “B” at times…

stickman

Should Casilla be out for awhile we are looking at a BP with a surfeit of middle relievers relative to late-inning guys. As mentioned earlier on this thread, the Super Two thing may be a concern on Hembree, but the time for that is soon elapsed. So instead of looking at Heath’s impending callup as a possible fireman (a role in which he might be outstanding) it now appears more likely than not that when he enters The Show it will be in a setup role alongside Affeldt.

Slide Dog

Stickman, speaking of wordsmithing … sufeit … wow, are we in a Jane Austin novel here? ;>) Seriously though, vocabulary is a lost art, keep it up.

Yeah, the Casilla injury has gone under the radar. Bochy clearly has his ‘A’ relievers (Romo, Lopez, Affeldt, Casilla, Gaudin) and the ‘B’ list (Mijares, Machi, Kontos, Rosario). How many times has Casilla come in when Boch’ wants to put the hammer down on a win. Kontos as a substitute has been hit and miss there. This could cost the team a win here or there, something to watch out for.

Albert C.

Kickham should be a “kick in the pants”. Wait until Righetti gets his hands on him. He’ll help him kick his slider up a notch.

===

Yes, Doug “Kerouac” Greenwald.

===

They shouldn’t fret Super 2 status on a reliever. Only way relievers make super coin in arbitration is if they are racking up saves. As long as Romo is on the hill in the ‘Nenth’, Hembree won’t be in line for super paydays.

So they should bring him up when they need him. Rosario will go down for the starter. Hembree would have to bump Kontos or Machi or ???.

They’re at 25. Not short, Gilligan.

Albert C.

Where’s Surfeit City ?

stickman

Surfeit City: Choices, choices. Some would opt for a well-heeled location somewhere between Mountainview and Redwood City. Others, considering factors other than the strictly economic, might place it in the general environs of Crescent City ranging up to Rogue River country.

Albert C.

I had places like Las Vegas and Dubai in mind. They can battle it out; as Santa Cruz and Huntington Beach can wage war over Surf City.

Sad to hear Doug Greenwald is channeling his inner Vin Scully. Dad was not of that ilk (as memory serves), and it gets old very quick. I hear ya, Lefty: announcers should talk about THIS GAME, not fill the air with meaningless trivia.

Glad to hear Hembree’s almost ready. Sounds like he “gets it”, and as Albert C. noted, arbitration issue questions are moot.

A lot of us are looking forward to seeing Kickham pitch in MLB, and it looks like he’s working into position to take that Tuesday 5/28 start. That is one of two MLB Network games on Tuesday evening–hope ATL market gets Giants/A’s, not Angels/Dodgers.

A surfeit: good word for current/future Giants bullpen arms. Also sometimes a good description of my indulgence in all things Giants. Lots of wordsmiths on the GE, led by our esteemed professor Lefty. Love new/recycled words. Life long learning is good!

This is a big weekend series. Someone said it perfect earlier in this thread (can’t find the post): the division is at a tipping point, three teams deadlocked just past the quarter pole, time to establish ourselves at home vs. team that whipped us good last weekend.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Put me down as a Mary Anne man.

stickman

Paul. Quite conversant here with meaning of surfeit. Note where i stated that it was a surfeit of middle relievers, implying shortage of late-inning guys. Sometimes i do not totally s p e l l it out. Expectations a bit high, i guess.

Big series. Gotta score runs. It used to take only three or four to win. Now, with 55 pitching, you know you’re gonna need at least five, and seven would be better.

Bapah

I’m a bit disappointed the MLB Trade Rumors used “The Giants Cove” as their representative Blog for the Giants.

Albert C.

I should be referred to as “Albert C.” during business hours, M-F, 8-5; with emphasis on the quotes. Blame the IT mess which won’t allow my current email/gravatar to process. Just another item to add to the laundry list of why this site needs to upgrade from the team of monkeys running the IT.

“Twas the best of times,
twas the blurst of times”

Stupid monkeys!!

===

Any votes for Ginger the harlot starlet ?? Or Mrs. Howell? Any port in a storm, eh fellahs?

I gotta err on the side of: “Compared to other Minor League Announcers”….

I think Hank “was all that” RE: Ilk…

“Superman has done it again….”
“27 years of……..”

Doug should not have been waxing poetically unle$s its a Blow Out or Rain Delay, but I’m still willing to place our guys in Frezz and Joe Ritzo in SJ over all of baseball. Doug has flaws … he channels Dad, and Flemm who channels Miller TOO much.

Am so stoked. My son surprised me, inviting me to go with him to tonight’s game. His people got primo seats about 4 rows behind The dugout, 1st base side. Gonna go down there about 5:30 and just take it in. Came up on train last night – whew. I’m ailing and addled, but not too much for a ball game! Hoping to see another gem from Tim..

pacman68

Hembree and Kickham should be coming up sooner then later. I predict Gaudin will pitch sometime this weekend with Zito and Timmy pitching.

pacman68

And seriously on another note. You have to kinda marvel at what the Yankees are doing. They are freaking 10 games over 500 with dudes I have never heard of. I really thought that they would finish last this year.

I saw Brandon Belt riding around on his scooter w/a lady friend right after Thursday’s game on the Embarcadero. I guess his “back tightness” is minor. (or more likely – non-existent)

ClutchUp

Sure it wasn’t Hunter Pence?

Hunter Pence has “lady friends”

Brandon Belt has a wife?

bernard

Correction… “right after Wednesday’s game…”

bernard

CU – I don’t know players’ marital status. She was a lady, and they seemed friendly. =)

Richard in Winnipeg

Heh Lefty:
Thanks for all the great insight you provide.
I know we have disagreed at times.
That said I always find your observations to be informative.
Thanks again.

FYI. I am betting Kickham gets the call, as I am sure Management is wanting to find out if their internal options for starters are real or imaginary at this point in time.

Lefty

Thanks, Richard! I appreciate you, too. Peace!

Belt wrote in his most recent blog post that he and his wife Haylee both just got new scooters. He seemed extremely excited about this. I hope he doesn’t hurt himself. I’m a lefty and really awkward and my family would never let me on a scooter. They don’t even want me on a bicycle, and I live in Davis, the bike capital of America!

ClutchUp

bernard says: May 24th, 2013 at 11:10 am 238..CU – I don’t know players’ marital status. She was a lady, and they seemed friendly. =)

Bernard: Ok how’s this? Are you implying (again like others) that Bochy can’t give out correct information regarding a stiff back? I think riding a scooter does not take the torque that swinging a bat does but you may disagree…

Belt’s been wanting a scooter … didn’t know that he obtained one yet? I can see Pence negotiating the Embarc swimmingly but I have my doubts that “Keep Awkward” could pull off the same.

How can one NOT look friendly while “on a scooter”? (haha)

Anyway, BB9′s wife Haley is much, much shorter so she was probably hunkered down in back on a regular scooter OR slathered-in front of the type of scooter that HP8 drives around town.